With the Portsmouth Municipal Election a little over a month away, Mayor Jack Blalock would like to thank exiting City Councilors and remind residents the importance of participating in local elections on Tuesday, November 7th.

“As Assistant Mayor Jim Splaine and Councilors Brad Lown, Eric Spear and Joshua Cyr end their terms on City Council, I want to express my gratitude for their expertise as we handled important City issues on a broad variety of topics. Together they served the public for many years, and I know their commitment to service will continue in other roles. Portsmouth is very fortunate to have such talented, dedicated citizens.”

In the 2015 Municipal Election, some may be surprised to learn that only 28.6 percent of Portsmouth registered voters cast ballots. According to Mayor Blalock, it is crucial to increase participation in local elections. “Residents need to realize that their local government is making critical decisions in deciding what our community’s priorities are and how it will be run. Local governments lead the way when the federal government is not. Regardless of your political affiliation, change occurs from the ground up. By voting in local elections and holding your officials accountable, you can help create positive change that affects our day-to-day lives. I am very proud to have such a vocal community here, and hope participation in the public process will continue to grow.”